Gastrin-17 as a diagnostic biomarker for peptic ulcer disease associated with depression: a case-control study

Bachground : Peptic ulcer disease refers to deep erosions in the mucosal layer of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and is commonly associated with psychological disorders such as depression. Depression is characterized by feelings of hopelessness, insomnia, and guilt. Gastrin-17 is an important hormone that regulates the gastrointestinal system and controls acid secretion and gastric cell proliferation. Aim : To estimate the serum level of gastrin-17 and assess its potential as a diagnostic biomarker for peptic ulcer disease related to depression. Materials and methods : A case-control study was conducted involving 50 males diagnosed with peptic ulcer by endoscopy and 50 healthy males as controls. Gastrin-17 and vitamin D3 levels were measured using ELISA. The Mann–Whitney U test was used for comparison, and the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of gastrin-17 was assessed using the ROC curve test. Results : Gastrin-17 levels differed significantly between peptic ulcer patients and controls ( p <0.01), higher in patients (188.95 [131.99 - 227.11]) than in controls (70.94 [57.025 -79.31]). There was a significant decrease ( p <0.01) in serum vitamin D3 in peptic ulcer patients (82.93 [44.896 - 91.211]) than in controls (173.19 [164.51 - 181.786]). The ROC curve for gastrin-17 showed AUC 0.999, with 98% sensitivity, 100% specificity, and 99% accuracy. Conclusion : This study found significant differences in gastrin-17 levels between males with peptic ulcer disease and controls. It discussed reasons for elevated levels in PUD complicated by depression and the bidirectional relationship between these two conditions, highlighting its potential as a diagnostic tool, as shown by ROC curve analysist.